Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-10-14
POWER TO FORGIVE.
ExPLANAT NOTES BY REV. GEO.
P. HAYES, D. D., IL. D.

Text of the Lesson. Matt. TX. I-9-go,dep
NJ. ,,..
VS.. 1, 9. Energetic faith-Christ had Just
returned to Capernaum from the eastern side
of the lake. where he had healed the demoni
M uera Il, b;s own c;tv HE ,ovver ,vas MI,
-, A. =, ~. -, -,
49,, -, "O,'e'
uoroao' 'niS man anu Ills irienus resoiVeu 10
make an appear 10 him'
Christ seems at first wholly to have over
looked the disease of this mans body, and to
have spoken only of the disease of his soul
The attention of this man and of bis friends
may have been directed wholly to his physical
distress. Their attention would he much
more sharply directed to the spiritual benefit
within their reach, by calling attention first
to sim Christ, therefore, planned this
miracle, SO that he could enforce this lesson
both on those who were affected by this case
and on the mere spectators.
VS.. g. A. Sin and death-The relation of
sin and sickness is very close OF course
the forgiveness of sin does not now always
produce physical health But the Saviour
here struck at the root Of disease when he
proposed to forgive sin. But for sin, sickness,
disease and death would be unknown. When,
therefore, Jesus said, "Thy sins be forgiven
thee" he covered the whole question of the
relation of sickness and suffering to moral
causes.
VS.. 5, g. Bad logic-The thoughts of the
scribes are not surprising when we recol-
lect their assumption as to Jesus human
character. Their logic, stated in full, is this
for man to forgive sins is blasphemy; this
is mere man, therefore he blasphemeth.
But this assumed as infallibly certain the
very question at issue, whether this was only
a mere man. Here, as is usual in false rea-
soning, the false premise is omitted. Jesus
question III verse did two things to prove
his divinity: first, it proved it by his knowl-
edge of their thoughts; and second, its word
"eviF' called their attention to their mistake
What Christ meant by ease and difficulty de-
serves attention. That word "easier" as
sumes that it is but word in either case, and
forces the question of his divinity at once to
the front.
1t also fixes visible test as to the result
The mans sins might be forgiven, and yet
there would remain no immediate method of
| knowing that fact by the bodily senses. But
if the man should now arise and walk, every
body could see that.
vs. Z, s. Momentous results-If all parties
could have understood how much seemed for
the moment to have been staked on this mans
conduct, how they would have held their
breath at the close OF Jesus last words in
verse D! verse narrates the result IN the
most quiet and unsurpassed manner. If the
Bible was not inspired, what sensational
story men would have made out OF this event.
The peoples logic was not much better than
that OF the scribes. They did not deny the
wonderful work, but they still omitted the
argument for the divinity of Christ
The charities now IN the world are almost
wholly the outcome OF the Christian religion
Even when engaged IN by those who are moi
themselves professors OF evangelical Chris
tanlty, they are the result OF Christian
public sentiment in the community. Temporal
charity ought to accompany missionary work
but it should not be so administered as to OBJ
scure or overshadow the spiritual end in
volved. Chrlst's way was to enforce mora
lessons with temporal blessings.
When this man was healed it was his dnV
70 arise ana walk w. q. we can conceiv'
that the words OF tine saviour 10 MIN migh
nave accomplished In MS Dody ohe cure OF Ill
disease. ana yet he might nave SO refused u
a''eh'P1 10 move .hat ne wouiu nave n'il
. |,O as uePenuenS oh MS irieiius as pe,o,e
"nen tne sp.,i'ualiy pa'sie' arc nea'eu y.
conversion 'he exercise Vi 'neir spiri'ua
49,
a. N' ,,o''
" o. SUI peol sooi ciieer anu neip
iesS' ho1 aoie 10 move ones sen anu scarcei.
" oe iio.e" ~ neal',iiei anu S.ionhei nah ~,
one may ieei Jus'iiieu III cas'uowh anu us
piiiVeu iooh: inerc wouid pe siea. ,ieeu ~
VIC piI"sl,,S suou ciiee, " Tue s.'h anu ue
eponuen,' ieS 'nis "o,u was no' ",iaS wa
..;l;IIo taie 70 .,e -, ~ ; ~ o ~;
thonn ,,.as 49,, ;7,,,;.;,'io .oI;, -, .,' ~, VIA
w. tI,;,,i, 1919 ~ -, WV nu,,
Io.',s shiJ ~; ~ ~ ya' ;,ea 10 70
LIS W W SINS
80 .a;' w wy ~ ."e ~ .nou ..5,,,;
~. w., H. ,o'' -. "
hnd,. Ia; M SUu .nay us pa's.e,
49,, i;ssa',i, -. III Tn "o. oe
Wv " W. no n''' oi'i'pi.
.h;.' -ny s.,,s IS 49, 49, 49, 80. ']'.
.ns ,''"f'''eu wiz" "n'' '''e 'i'eiu' GA
IT., ;e., r., Ill.,
o. no n'',o'oeue' s,o' iiieu oou nei
q. ha. e., a ~ p eop,e INV "no , MAJ
g. ""% ~, oou uo, 'u' seiuoai se' oet on CIV